MNN Galleries

17 animals amazingly adapted to thrive in deserts

Desert hedgehog

One of the cutest residents of any desert is the desert hedgehog, found in Africa and the Middle East. Adapted to live in desert and arid scrub habitats, this species of hedgehog is one of the smallest, only reaching between 6-11 inches long. It survives by escaping the heat by staying in its burrow by day and hunting by night. It eats everything from insects and invertebrates to bird eggs to snakes and scorpions. By getting fluids from its prey, it can go for long periods of time without water.

Desert hedgehog

One of the cutest residents of any desert is the desert hedgehog, found in Africa and the Middle East. Adapted to live in desert and arid scrub habitats, this species of hedgehog is one of the smallest, only reaching between 6-11 inches long. It survives by escaping the heat by staying in its burrow by day and hunting by night. It eats everything from insects and invertebrates to bird eggs to snakes and scorpions. By getting fluids from its prey, it can go for long periods of time without water.